Fire officials urge vigilance with smoke detectors

The State Fire Marshal's Office is asking residents to be vigilant about maintaining the smoke alarms in their homes after seven people died in fires in the first six weeks of 2014.

Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci said Tuesday that in four of the fatal fires, smoke alarms were in the home, but had dead or missing batteries.

Geraci reminded residents that a state law that went into effect in July requires replacement of any battery-only operated smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old with a unit powered by a 10-year sealed-in battery.

Geraci also said that it is never acceptable to remove wired-in smoke alarms and replace them with any other type of batter-operated device.

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